Work

Friction and Wear Behavior of General Freight Train Composite Brake Shoes with Reinforced Steel Fibers

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: High friction composite brake shoes containing reinforced steel fibers are now widely used in freight train tread braking systems. With the demand for higher transportation efficiency on railway lines with long steep slopes, it is necessary to explore the braking capabilities of existing general freight train high friction composite brake shoes under continuous braking conditions. In this paper, continuous braking tests at different speed levels were conducted using a friction and wear test rig. Through material characterization and interface damage analysis, it was found that reinforced steel fibers can exist as a contact platform at the brake shoe friction interface. Due to the strip-like morphology and high strength features of steel fibers, even after the steel fiber layer is fragmented, it can still promote the formation of a continuous contact platform with complex material composition on the surface, maintaining the progress of the braking process. For existing general freight train high friction composite brake shoes, at speeds up to 80 km/h, although the friction coefficient decreases to some extent, the wear rate maintains a relatively low range. When the speed increases to 100 km/h, the friction coefficient of the braking interface deteriorates severely, and the wear rate of the brake shoe increases sharply, seriously endangering braking safety. The research results reveal the evolution of wear behavior of high friction composite brake shoes containing reinforced steel fibers at different speed levels, providing theoretical support for exploring the braking capabilities and design optimization of brake shoes.

Source: Machines

DOI: 10.3390/machines14050573

Authors: Hengxi Wang, Xin Zhang, Guansong Chen, Jiazheng Song, José Manuel Martínez-Esnaola, Chun Lu

Institutions: Southwest Jiaotong University, Centro de Estudios e Investigaciones Técnicas de Gipuzkoa, Universidad de Navarra

Language: English

Topic: Brake Systems and Friction Analysis

Subfield: Automotive Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,896